Bible Reading: Psalm 78
“The children of Ephraim, being armed, and carrying bows, turned back in the day of battle. They kept not the covenant of God, and refused to walk in his law; and forgat his works, and his wonders that he had shewed them”- Psalm 78: 9-11(KJV)
The above scriptures reveal what happens when we disobey God and are ungrateful to God for his help to us in time past. How often we fall prey to the repercussion of this evil twin of ungratefulness and disobedience. Gratitude finds expression in thanksgiving. Gratitude is an act of appreciation to God for what He has done for you. How many Christians would have fallen victim to satanic oppression and molestation because of ingratitude to Go? How often we forget the deliverance of God and begin to attribute our successes to our human efforts and intelligence. Most times we forget to appreciate God for deliverances which he wrought in our life, which we considered inconsequential or taken for granted. There are so many examples of these acts of God’s deliverance which we take for granted such as travelling mercies, going and coming back from work hitch-free, children coming back from school unhurt, participating in games such as football without injury etc. If we reflect we will realize quite a number of events we have taken for granted and never gave thanks for it. Learning how to give thanks for small things will tremendously improve our relationship with God.
God is endeared to a heart of gratitude. Most times our defeat as Christians in the battles of life is traceable to ingratitude and disobedience to divine instruction. The bible says, “though thy beginning was small, yet the latter end should greatly increase” – Job 8:7(KJV). Knowing how to appreciate and give thanks for small things is your gateway to great and mighty achievements in life. When we take God for granted we are bound to be grounded. We must develop a thankful heart before God. Thanksgiving must become our lifestyle if we must remain consistently victorious in life.
Not keeping God’s covenant and refusing to walk in His law is tantamount to disobeying God. The only way we can avoid being ensnared by Satan and his agents is to obey the instructions of the Almighty. The Psalmist said, “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee” – Psalm 119:11(KJV). Ingratitude and disobedience are sins before God, in order to avoid these twin sin that leads to destruction and defeat we must keep the word of God hidden in our heart. In another place the Psalmist prayed, “Order my steps in thy word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me” – Psalm 119:133(KJV). When our steps are properly ordered in God’s word we will stay above the trappings of sin.
My dear reader, one of the greatest acts of ingratitude and disobedience against God is not accepting His great love extended to humanity. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” – John 3:16(KJV). God’s love for us is epitomized in Christ Jesus, who gave His life and shed His blood to pay for our sin.
Prayer: Father, engrace me to live a lifestyle of gratitude and obedience to you all the days of my life.
Bro. Joel Ezeugo